Firestorm | ✎

3. the blood pact

    "Well, that escalated quickly."

     After the quarrel, both Isla and Elias had been dragged out to the hallway with the headmaster and Madame in tow. It was impossible to ignore the lingering stares that followed their every move—most of them had been on Elias, but she was surprised to see that some eyes were on her, too. Probably wondering which poor lassie got caught with Elias Sabatier this time.

     So now here she was, in the headmaster's office, the very place she'd promised herself she would never be again.

     Isla couldn't stop glaring at Elias.

    "It wasn't my fault," she refuted. "There was a picture, and people started talking, and I was just defending myself—"

    "By yelling profanity at each other's faces?"

     The headmaster's patronising tone made her shrunk.

    "From Mr. Sabatier, I would have expected it," he said sternly, to which Elias raised his hands up like what the fuck? "But from you, Miss Kingsley, I thought it would be different this time."

     She stiffened. "But I'm—"

    "Maybe I wasn't clear enough."

    "Bretton, this is my fault," Madame stepped forward, her eyebrows furrowed with guilt. "I was the one who assigned them as tutoring partners. Don't blame it on the girl. She's proved herself enough."

     A deadly pause ensued that made Isla's back straight. She kept her head forward, ignoring the way Elias's eyes swivelled back and forth, trying to piece together the conversation.

    "I will give you a predicament," the headmaster finally said. "The tutoring sessions will proceed. But make it two months."

    "What?" Isla and Elias let out.

    "I don't want another fight like this being brought back to my attention," he bellowed. "The reputation of this Academy must be maintained, and as one of the most respected boarding schools in this country, I will not let it be put in the hands of two temperamental teenagers. Two months should be enough for you to resolve it."

    "But—"

    "My decision is final."

     When the headmaster flicked a nonchalant hand towards the door, the two stood up with defeated shoulders. But nothing could be more than the weight Isla felt on hers. Before she passed the door, the headmaster spoke again.

    "You made me a promise, Isla Kingsley," he said as he riffled through papers, not looking at her once. "I expect you to maintain it."

—

     Her next trip to the library was interesting.

     Instead of witnessing the whispers, she realised with a jolt that this time, they were following her as she walked in.

     Was this how it felt being Elias Sabatier? If it was, she didn't fancy being popular at all. She suddenly remembered one of her Biology projects so many years ago, where they had a guinea pig put inside a cage for them to observe its every move. She'd sneak into class after it was over, peaking through the glass at something so strange.

     Now, Isla was the guinea pig.

     She easily found an empty table, because once she neared it, the rest of the students had done a runner. Great.